Circular of the General Office of the State Council on Implementing Some Policies on Developing the Western Regions of the Country
Circular of the General Office of the State Council on Implementing Some Policies on Developing the Western Regions of the Country
Circular of the General Office of the State Council on Implementing Some Policies on Developing the Western Regions of the Country
Guo Fa [2000] No.33
October 26, 2000
To the people's governments of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, all ministries and commissions of the State Council and all institutions directly under the State Council:
Implementing the strategy of developing China's western regions and speeding up the development of the central and western regions is an important component of our country's modernization strategy and is a bold decision made by the Central Committee of the CPC with great foresight and from an overall perspective in facing the new century, and is therefore of great political and economic significance. The State Council has drawn up various policies and measures designed to realize the large-scale development of China's western regions, which embody our government's main areas of support for the development of these regions. This Circular outlines the relevant issues as follows:
Article 1 Policy-making principles and key areas of support
(I) Policy-making principles. The implementation of the large-scale development of China's western regions is a grand systematic project and a momentous historical task requiring that we adopt a sense of urgency and prepare our minds thoroughly for the long and arduous struggle ahead. We shall persevere in acting on the basis of actual conditions and working in accordance with objective laws; be positive, aggressive and act according to our capabilities; stand in the present and look forward to the future; put into practice overall planning and scientific reasoning; proceed in steps while highlighting key points; be careful not to rush into mass action; guard against waste and extravagance and never descend into chaos. We shall speed up the transition of ideas, expand liberalization to the outside world and deepen reform, carry through the strategy of relying on science and education to rejuvenate the nation and sustain development, combine the full effect of market forces with sound macro-controls, and integrate the spirit of self-reliance among government officials and the masses of the western regions with nationwide support.
(II) Key tasks and strategic objectives. The key tasks in carrying out the large-scale development of China's western regions both at present and in years to come include: speeding up the construction of infrastructure; strengthening the protection and improvement of the natural environment; consolidating the status of agriculture as a pillar of the national economy, adjusting the industrial structure and developing a unique tourism industry; and developing undertakings in science, technology, education, culture and public health. Great efforts should be made within the next 5 to 10 years to achieve breakthrough progress in the construction of infrastructure facilities and the protection of the natural environment so as to make a good start in the development of the western regions. By the middle of the 21st century, the western regions will have been rebuilt, with a prosperous economy, progressive society, stable living conditions, national unity and breathtaking landscapes.
(III) Key regions. The policies for the large-scale development of China's western regions are applicable to Chongqing Municipality, Sichuan Province, Guizhou Province, Yunnan Province, the Tibet Autonomous Region, Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, the Sinkiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Large-scale development of the western regions will rely on major transport routes such as the Asia-Europe Continental Bridge, the Yangtze River waterway and the south-western access to the sea. Full play shall be given to the roles of central cities, and it will be necessary to link up major cities to gradually form a network of inter-provincial economic zones which spread along the West Longhai-Lanxin Line, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the Nan(ning)-Gui(yang)-Kun(ming) area so as to stimulate development in other areas and emphasize and carry forward the gradual large-scale development of China's western regions.
Article 2 Policies to increase financial input
(I) Putting more funds into construction. The proportion of central treasury financial construction funds to be used in western regions shall be increased. State policy-oriented bank loans and preferential loans from international financial organizations and foreign governments shall be arranged for projects in western regions as far as possible subject to the condition that loans are granted in accordance with lending principles. Major new infrastructure projects set up by the state shall be funded principally out of central financial construction funds, other special construction funds, bank loans and foreign investments, and no funding shortfalls will be left. The Central Government will adopt various measures to raise special funds for the development of western regions. The Central Government departments concerned shall demonstrate their full support for western regions when drawing up industrial development plans and policies and arranging special funds. Enterprises are encouraged to invest in major construction projects in western regions.
(II) Prioritizing construction projects. The western regions shall be given priority when deciding where to proceed with infrastructure facilities such as irrigation systems, transport infrastructure, energy infrastructure, infrastructure for the exploitation and utilization of superior resources, innovative industrial projects involving advanced modern technologies and military technologies converted to civilian use. Efforts should be made to establish corporate responsibility systems for projects, project finance systems, project tendering and bidding systems, systems for the supervision and administration of project quality, systems for the supervision and administration of project environments, etc., in the western regions, and to strengthen preliminary work for construction projects.
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